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unique find

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  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
unique find
Posted by NVSRR on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 6:28 PM

Sometimes, you find unique things.  exibit, this thing.

I saw this and thought it was an interesting scratchbuild.  raised a bunch of questions for sure.   said to run rough. missing the smoke box front.  I thought it was a fantasy based on early SP experiment into cab forwards.   I get this today.  Unwrap that tender first.  it is an oil tender.  manufactured too.  reminded me of a Rivarossi tender. sure enoungh, burried under the front truck, was the word Italy.  Then reallsmall print is Rivarossi.  ok. ok Nice. a rivarossi tender.  never saw the small slope back in oil form for an 0-4-0 size engine.    The engine it self, looked like a modified 0-4-0 with a AC cab stuck on.  the pilot is wood. but had one thing missing aside from the needed steam details. and front box plate.   it is missing the slight imperfections of a scratch build.  curious.  I look on the base plate underside.  wait. rivarossi again.   rivarossi on the boiler too.  Thissurprise.  it is factory made. production.  not a scratch build. it is not a tender pickup. just the drivers. easy dcc conversion actually.  The battery test shows it runs reasonably well. does seam to be a minor bind in the connecting rods somewhere.    never seen any mention of such a thing.  in ads or Mention from john Allen time. or any other pics.  any body know the story behind this obscure little engine?  

 

SHane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    January 2022
  • From: Michigan, USA
  • 120 posts
Posted by allegedlynerdy on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 6:58 PM

I've seen others around - on auction sites and such. I usually ignore them as "toy train stuff" and move on, not my cup of tea. A quick Google reveals one on auction right now that has a one axle tender, which is unusual - not sure if damage or weird kitbashing

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 7:07 PM

I saw that one on auction you speak of.  that is definitly an odd kitbash. with an un gainly tender.  

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 2,505 posts
Posted by caldreamer on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 9:20 PM

The oddist item I aquired was a plastic model of a jordon spreader.  Made in Canada by a manufacturer up there. I had not in all of my years in N scale ever seen a plastic version of a Jordon spreader. I felt that it was a little pricey, but considering that it would be impossible to find another I purchased it.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, October 5, 2023 2:15 AM

NVSRR
Anybody know the story behind this obscure little engine?  

I certainly do not, but it really is a neat little locomotive.

Just recently I became aware of this steam critter from Trix:

Now I want one!

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    May 2019
  • 1,314 posts
Posted by BEAUSABRE on Thursday, October 5, 2023 3:51 PM

A German 0-4-0T (the "second axle" is a jackshaft) with automatic stoking for one man operation nicknamed the "Glass Boxes"

"The Class PtL 2/2 locomotives of the Royal Bavarian State Railways (Königlich Bayerische Staatseisenbahn) were light and very compact superheated steam locomotives for operation on Bavarian branch lines (known generally as Lokalbahnen). There were three types in total, of which two were transferred to the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft as Class 98.3 tank locomotives and even survived to join the Deutsche Bundesbahn fleet after the Second World War.

Common to all the variants was the B axle arrangement (European or UIC classification) or 0-4-0 (Whyte notation), the semi-automatic, gravity-feed firing that enabled one-man operation, and platforms with guard rails, front and rear, that enabled safe access to the coaches. The locomotives had a large driver's cab with 3 windows per side that surrounded the entire locomotive boiler as far as the smokebox. This unique feature earned it the nickname Glaskasten ("glass box") or, in FranconiaGlas-Chaise ("glass carriage")"

Bavarian PtL 2/2 - Wikipedia

  • Member since
    May 2019
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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Thursday, October 5, 2023 4:38 PM

Looks like someone was trying to duplicate something from the Neolithic Age of model railroading - Kemton's 4-4-0 conversion kit for the Varney Dockside

I heard someone had one towing a Walthers Oscar and Piker on their line

It was an age of modeling whimsy - John Allen's "Locomotive #13" was a Stegosuarus 

 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Thursday, October 5, 2023 9:23 PM

Are you planning on having it on your layout or just for display purposes?  Curious what others have to say since I'm not into steam.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, October 6, 2023 12:28 AM

BEAUSABRE
John Allen's "Locomotive #13" was a Stegosuarus.

Stratton And Gillette #13 is similar:

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

BEAUSABRE
It was an age of modeling whimsy.

Not anymore. We are in the age of modeling stuffiness.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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